European Metrology Research Programme Towards future SI measurement standards A summary of the outputs and impact of the completed EMRP joint research projects in the SI Broader Scope theme and also projects from the Open Excellence theme. The aim of research in these themes is to develop the International System of measurement – the SI – to meet the future measurement needs of industry and society. The research is focused on the SI units for temperature, mass, electric current and time, and on technologies required by users for its implementation. EURAMET e.V. - the European Association of National Metrology Institutes Measurement matters Measurement underpins virtually every aspect of our daily lives, helping to ensure quality and safety, supporting technological innovation and keeping our economy competitive. Supported by the European Commission, EURAMET’s European Metrology Research Programme (EMRP) brings together National Measurement Institutes in 23 countries to pool scientific and financial resources to address key measurement challenges at a European level. The programme is designed to ensure that measurement science meets the future needs of industry and wider society. Research is structured around six themes – Energy, Environment, Health and Industry – as well as the measurement needs of emerging technologies and the fundamentals of the SI measurement units that form the basis of Europe’s measurement infrastructure. Contents Introduction: SI Broader Scope ............................................................................................................................................. 4 Highlights ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 5 EMRP SI Broader Scope at a glance .................................................................................................................................... 8 Implementing the revised SI .................................................................................................................................................. 9 Measurement challenges ........................................................................................................................................... 9 Key technical achievements ...................................................................................................................................10 Metrology for the SI Broader Scope .................................................................................................................................21 Measurement challenges .........................................................................................................................................21 Key technical achievements ...................................................................................................................................22 Introduction: Open Excellence ...........................................................................................................................................25 Measurement challenges .........................................................................................................................................25 Key technical achievements ...................................................................................................................................26 Further information ....................................................................................................................................................................30 SI BROADER SCOPE IMPACT REPORT 3 Introduction: SI Broader Scope European manufacturers require reliable measurements that give the same answer wherever they are made. Accurate measurements, with traceability to international standards, provide an objective base for decision-making in the development and production of products and provide a basis for global trade. The solution to global challenges such as moving to renewable energy, delivering high quality healthcare and protecting the environment are all dependent on a reliable and internationally agreed measurement infrastructure. This structure supports innovation, efficient manufacturing and fair trade and underpins health, safety, security and protection of the environment. Europe is home to some of the world’s leading National Measurement Institutes (NMIs) and plays a key role in the international metrology system; defining, realising and disseminating the SI and so ensuring that measurements are the same the world over. The SI is not static but evolves to match the world’s increasingly demanding requirements for measurement. The General Conference on Weights and Measures, the international body responsible for the SI, set out a roadmap outlining the route to a decision on adopting the revised SI system in 2018. This revision aims to reduce the uncertainties of measurements at the highest level, including primary measurement standards at NMIs and Designated Institutes (DIs). Ensuring that the SI continues to meet the needs of science, technology, commerce and society in the 21st century requires ongoing investment in existing and developing measurement methods and techniques. The EMRP SI Broader Scope theme addressed these challenges and supported research for the SI redefinition. Research groups from 39 metrology institutes came together with academia and industry to conduct research under the first call of the EMRP SI Broader Scope theme. The theme focused on the metrology research needed to underpin the development of the SI system and builds on research conducted in the previous iMERA+ programme. EMRP research focused on two areas: implementation of the revised SI and development of new advanced techniques for providing traceability of measurement results for measurement users. This report presents the key technical achievements of the research projects in the EMRP themes SI Broader Scope and Open Excellence, and their role in future-proofing the international metrology system. 4 SI BROADER SCOPE IMPACT REPORT G NPL SI BROADER SCOPE IMPACT REPORT 5 ICELAND SWEDEN FINLAND Gulf of Highlights NORWAY Bothnia ESTONIA North LATVIA Measurement science collaboration Sea Baltic Sea LITHUANIA for the broader SI IRELAND UNITED GERMANY POLAND BELARUS Whether for disease diagnosis or to manufacture energy efficient KINGDOM engines, the SI underpins all measurements across the globe. The SI Broader Scope call has focused R&D to advance measurement UKRAINE standards and SI units and to prepare an efficient European measurement infrastructure based on National Measurement FRANCE AUSTRIA HUNGARY Institute collaboration. ROMANIA Black The European Commission and national governments invested ITALY BULGARIA Sea €143M in collaborative metrology focused research, involving research groups in 28 European NMIs and Designated Institutes GREECE (DIs), and 28 academic groups. The research addressed key needs SPAIN TURKEY for SI unit redefinitions and increased traceability for chemical, radio-biological and sub-nano measurements. TUNISIA Mediterranean Sea Map of participating NMI and DI Direct thermodynamic measurement for kelvin Future temperature measurements based on atomic vibrations have been brought closer as a result of EMRP funding. These atomic vibrations the basis of thermodynamic temperature, and could remove the need for complex calibration chains or even a temperature scale. EMRP funded research increased links between the existing temperature scale, the ITS-90, and this fundamental atomic property - a crucial step towards introducing this new temperature system. Extending the current ITS-90 temperature scale’s range and plugging remaining gaps are needed to increase the reliability of temperature measurements. EMRP research developed low-temperature high-accuracy thermometers enabling cryostat manufacturers and their customers to accurately demonstrate product performance with greater ease. Novel devices based on near infrared radiation thermometry or acoustic thermometry have been developed leading to commercial interest in the acoustic thermometry technology. Users will be able to make direct SI traceable thermodynamic temperature measurements for the first time. Travelling standard for ampere generation A future redefinition of the ampere based on single electron transport (SET) devices is now possible as a result of a highly accurate pico-amp meter developed in an EMRP project. The device is based on conventional electronics, operates at room temperature and has been validated for use with small direct currents. This innovative ultra-stable low-noise current amplifier (patent pending) provides unparalleled performance and now acts as a travelling electrical standard. Using the amplifier, the EMRP project demonstrated the superior accuracy of a SET-based cryogenic quantum ampere standard compared to state-of-the- art generation of the ampere based on ‘classical’ (non-quantum) experiments used in existing experimental SI ampere realisations. 6 SI BROADER SCOPE IMPACT REPORT ICELAND SWEDEN FINLAND Gulf of NORWAY Bothnia ESTONIA North LATVIA Sea Baltic Sea LITHUANIA Fibre optic links for future time IRELAND UNITED GERMANY POLAND BELARUS standard KINGDOM Optical clocks will provide the next generation of accurate time standards but they need to be linked to other clocks so users can UKRAINE benefit from time traceability directly. EMRP funding has proved that optical